While the Number of Asylum Seekers to Finland Drops, Job-Based Migration Increases

During the previous government, several changes in the law were introduced to make it easier for entrepreneurs and experts to move to Finland, and thereby promote economic growth and employment.

“The basic premise is that, in addition to the domestic workforce,
Finland needs employees also from abroad. There is intense competition in the
world for international talents,” said Jorma Vuorio, the director general at the migration
department of the Ministry of the Interior, in a statement.

The residence permit system must be as smooth as possible so as not to
complicate the recruitment of talents to Finland. A preliminary study last year
looked into the causes of delays in the work permit process and into what could
be done to address them. This spring, the development of the work permit
process will be coordinated.

The migration of students and researchers has also been made easier. The
duration of residence permits of researchers and students from non-EU countries
was extended in September 2018, and these groups are encouraged to take up employment
and entrepreneurship with a relevant residence permit.

Major decline in numbers of
asylum seekers

The number of new asylum seekers has already fallen to below the level seen
before 2015.

However, the Finnish asylum system is still overburdened as the number of
clients registered in the reception system is decreasing slowly. This is
affected by the asylum procedure having been prolonged because of large numbers
of applicants in previous years, the numbers of re-applications submitted, the
increased difficulty of returns and the unattractiveness of voluntary returns.

Recent legislative changes have reduced opportunities to abuse the
re-application procedure. Since July 2018, the Finnish Immigration Service is
required to process asylum applications within six months of their submission.

Finland has continued bilateral negotiations with Iraq and Somalia concerning the return of their citizens. To accelerate voluntary return, support for assisted voluntary return was increased at the beginning of this year.

Reform of the Common European
Asylum System continues

Negotiations towards the reform of the Common European Asylum system have
continued in the European Union. Issues of the Dublin Regulation relating to
themes including solidarity and responsibility-sharing have yet to be solved.

“Reform is difficult but necessary. Border checks currently take place
at many borders between the member states, which is against the basic idea of
the Schengen Area. It may, however, be difficult to discontinue these checks if
the union cannot reach a common view on immigration policy,” Vuorio said. “The
main points are in any case clear. The EU common immigration policy must be
sustainable, respect fundamental and human rights and be commonly approved by
citizens.”

During its presidency of the Council of the EU beginning in July, Finland will seek to contribute towards breaking the deadlock in the negotiations and promote reform of the asylum system.

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